UMass vs VCU 2/26/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
VCU Rams (19-7) vs. UMass Minutemen (12-14)
February 26, 2022 4:30 pm EDT
The Line: UMass Minutemen +5.5 / VCU Rams -5.5; Over/Under: +143
(Get latest betting odds)
The VCU Rams and the UMass Minutemen meet in college basketball action from the Mullins Memorial Center on Saturday afternoon.
The VCU Rams will look to build on a six-game win streak after a 72-66 win over George Mason last time out. Vince Williams Jr. leads VCU in scoring, rebounding and assists with 13 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 3.2 APG while Adrian Baldwin Jr. has 11.3 PPG with 5.4 APG in 18 games and KeShawn Curry also has 10.3 PPG to make up the group of double-digit scorers for VCU this season. Jayden Nunn has 8.4 PPG as well for the Rams this season. As a team, VCU is averaging 65.5 PPG on 45.3% shooting from the field, 35% from three and 68.4% from the foul line while allowing 60.8 PPG on 38.9% shooting from the field and 27% from three this season.
The UMass Minutemen will hope to find some consistency after alternating wins and losses in each of their last ten games after an 82-61 loss to Dayton last time out. Noah Fernandes leads the Minutemen in scoring and assists with 13.9 PPG and 5.5 APG in addition to 2.8 RPG while Rich Kelly has 12.8 PPG with 3.3 APG. Trent Buttrick has 11.1 PPG and 5.9 RPG and C.J. Kelly has 11 PPG with 4.6 RPG to round out the group of double-digit scorers for UMASS so far this season. T.J. Weeks Jr. also has 9.5 PPG with 4.8 RPG as well on the year. As a team, UMASS is averaging 75.1 PPG on 42.9% shooting from the field, 38.8% from three and 75.2% from the foul line while allowing 77.7 PPG on 48.8% shooting from the field and 37.1% from three this season.
VCU is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games and 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a win while the over is 6-0-1 in their last 7 games overall. UMass is 0-3-2 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 home games while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss.
This game is the proverbial battle of offense vs. defense as UMass has a solid offense and VCU has been known for their defense. However, VCU has stepped it up offensively in recent games and just don’t know if UMass will have an answer for the VCU defense. Not my favorite game on the board, but I’d side with VCU on the road here if forced to pick.
